Om Parvat is a majestic mountain in the Himalayan range, located in the Pithoragarh district of the state of Uttarakhand, in India. It is about 457 kms. away from New Delhi and its elevation is 5,590 m (18,340 ft) above sea level.
The mountain derives its name from the Sanskrit word ‘Om’, which is composed of three sounds: A-U-M. These sounds represent the three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. They also correspond to the three realms of existence: earth, atmosphere and heaven. The fourth state, beyond these three, is silence or pure consciousness, which is symbolized by the dot above the crescent in the Om symbol (ॐ).
The mountain is considered sacred by Hindus and its snow pattern resembles the sacred word (ॐ).
Near Om Parvat are the Parvat Lake and “Jonglingkong Lake”. Jonglingkong Lake is sacred as Lake Mansarovar .
The ‘Shiva Purana’ narrates that OM originated before the universe’s formation. In Pauranic texts and folklore, it is said that there are eight hidden natural OM symbols in the world, with one being visible in the form of OM Parvat.
The mountain is considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists and is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
(The ‘Puranas’ refer to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas ( metrical couplets ) and date to several centuries BCE).
